WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao will host its own children’s edition of the FIFA World Cup in 2026, offering young people across the island a unique blend of sports, education, and social development. The initiative, called the Fundashon Bicentini World Cup 2026, is being organized by Fundashon Bicentini under the leadership of founder Remko Bicentini.
The tournament is fully inspired by the official FIFA World Cup 2026, which will take place in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. A total of 48 teams will participate, each linked to one of the countries that qualify for the real World Cup. Primary schools and neighborhood teams will represent these countries following an official draw, which organizers hope to broadcast live on Curaçao television.
In total, 104 matches will be played, including a group stage, knockout rounds, and a final scheduled for June 7, 2026. The tournament will also feature an opening ceremony and a closing celebration, mirroring the structure of the global event.
More than football
According to Bicentini, the children’s World Cup is about far more than competition on the field. The project combines football with key social themes such as health, inclusion, participation, and community building.
During the months leading up to the tournament—March, April, and May—participating teams will take part in educational and social projects connected to the country they represent. Through these activities, children will learn about global citizenship, respect, and cooperation, while gaining insight into the cultures of all 48 participating nations.
“Football is not the goal, it is the tool,” Bicentini said. “With this World Cup, we give children on Curaçao opportunities, self-confidence, and the belief that they too are allowed to dream of a place on the world stage.”
The former national coach emphasized that talent exists everywhere and that a child’s background should never be a barrier to opportunity.
Year-round impact
Fundashon Bicentini is active throughout the year with sports, educational, and social programs aimed at children from underserved communities. The foundation works with local ambassadors and partners in the Netherlands to collect sports equipment, games, and learning materials, which are then shipped to Curaçao.
Organizing these initiatives requires significant coordination, Bicentini acknowledged, but he says the impact on children makes the effort worthwhile.
During the tournament, a specially transformed stadium on Curaçao will serve as the stage for what will be the first major sporting experience for many participants. The Fundashon Bicentini World Cup 2026 is not about winning or losing, but about showing children that they matter and that their future extends beyond the neighborhood in which they grow up.
“If a child learns here that he or she matters,” Bicentini concluded, “then we have already won—regardless of the score.”